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Are We Pushing a Pull Door? Steps to Change Our

Land Surveying Outreach Efforts Moving Forward

By: Trent J. Keenan, PLS

Pushing on a pull door. Think about that saying for a second…. Those five
words sum up our outreach efforts for the last 35-plus years. We continue to
push on doors hoping people will invite us in. It is time for change. It is time for
us to pull open the doors to create our own opportunities and secure the future
of our profession. It is time to mobilize; get out there and pull open those
doors to bring awareness to this great profession/career. We all can make a
difference moving forward! In this article, we outline a few things to kick start
our efforts.
The theme of the 2022 Western Regional Survey Conference was “Mapping
the Path for the Next Generation.” It was a fitting theme for a profession that is
eager for an influx of new talent and diverse voices.
At a conference Roundtable discussion dedicated to outreach efforts,
passionate participants brainstormed ideas to move the profession forward
and fill our thinning ranks.

When it comes to Outreach and attracting new talent to the profession, four clear avenues merit our time and attention:
1. K-5 students

2. 6-8 students
3. 9-12 students
4. Adults

While the conference’s theme focused on the next generation, individuals of all ages are interested in land surveying work. Here, we dive
into the various avenues that can attract new talent to the land surveying profession.

K-12 Outreach Initiatives
Today’s students are talented and driven, and it’s important to introduce them
to the existence of land surveying at a young age.

Exposure can begin at the youngest levels, tactics like fun coloring books,
games, or toys with a surveying link.

The most critical time to bring awareness to the profession is in middle school,
when students are old enough to be thinking seriously about the question
“what do you want to be when you grow up?” but not yet decided on a career
path. Suppose we can start the surveying conversation with elementary or
junior high students. In that case, that awareness has the highest chance
of carrying into high school and, therefore into students’ professional lives
beyond.

But since every individual is different, you never know when the right activity or presentation at the right time will stick in a students’
mind and change the course of their professional life. Therefore, our best strategy is to develop a repetitive message that reaches all of
the K-12 students at different stages of their journey.
Deepen ties with existing programs

Getting involved does not necessarily require starting from scratch. There are an incredible array of existing programs that have a link to
land surveying, which would be in our best interest to explore and invest in further.

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